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Five Baldwin Wallace University students and two faculty members of the broadcasting team at Baldwin Wallace University's (WBWC 88.3 "The Sting") will be recognized for their contributions to college radio and the station's daily operations at an upcoming Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Conference. WBWC General manager Liz Miller, Program Director Bruce Stacey, Music Director Michael Widman and faculty members Todd Richards, the station's production consultant, and Joe Tarantowski, WBWC Director of Broadcasting, will each be recognized with a Golden or Silver microphone at the IBS 75th Annual International Radio, TV, Webcast Conference March 6-8 in New York City.

MANSFIELD: Studying the Issue of Black Killings

It's been said that for every societal problem, a study group or task force is formed to study it and hopefully, come up with a solution. And that is just what Cleveland has begun to do. With the furor surrounding recent incidents involving what is being called a "lack of trust" between police officers and members of minority communities, it should come as no surprise that President Obama and Governor Kasich both have empaneled a task force to study the issue. This "lack of trust" between blacks and the police has existed at least since the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation, about 150 years ago. So the question that needs to be answered is "Why the recent increases in the body count of young black males, dead at the hands of white cops?” According to the FBI's most recent accounts of "justifiable homicide" in the seven year period between 2005 and 2012, a white officer used deadly force against a black person almost 2 times every week. Nearly one in every 5 were under 21 years of age. For comparison, only 8.7 percent of white people killed by police officers were younger than 21.

The Fight to Legalize Marijuana in Ohio

Key investors in a campaign to legalize marijuana use in Ohio include Oscar "The Big O" Robertson, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member, and Frostee Rucker, defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals, formerly of Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns. In a news release, Robertson, who formerly played for the Cincinnati Royals, said he joined the campaign to legalize marijuana use in Ohio because of the benefits provided by Medical Marijuana. "It's a terrible feeling when you can't help someone suffering from cancer or another debilitating condition, I know from personal experience. Medical marijuana can give our loved ones relief," Robertson said.

Should Ohio Increase Its Cigarette Tax, and Should The Increase Be Used to Cut Income Taxes?

The idea has been opposed by tobacco companies, grocers and wholesalers who say higher taxes would force smokers to purchase products for less online or in other states. The GOP-controlled legislature in Columbus have scrapped the proposal, prompting Gov. Kasic to blame lobbyists for lawmakers' decision to pull the proposal. Health Advocacy groups including the American Cancer Society and American Lung Association say Ohio's taxes need to be raised higher than Kasich proposed last year to deter more Ohioan's from smoking, while continuing to generate large revenue, a portion of which could strengthen the state's bare-bones tobacco prevention program. A poll conducted last year by the organizations found 63 percent of Ohioans approved increasing the rate from $1.25 to $2.25 per pack. Shelly Kiser, director of advocacy for the American Lung Association in Ohio, said a $1-per-pack increase would cause an estimated 73,100 adult smokers to quit, prevent 65,000 youths from becoming smokers and prevent 40,000 future deaths from smoking.

NATIONAL NEWS

HEAVY SNOW STORM INTERFERES

The weather should be perfect in Glendale, Ariz., for fans headed to the Super Bowl, but those watching the game throughout the Midwest and Northeast are in for some treacherous drives home. A massive storm stretching from Nebraska to Maine will dump snow, ice and freezing rain on Sunday, getting progressively worse throughout the night in the Northeast. Forecasters declared a blizzard warning for Chicago, predicted up to a tenth of an inch of ice on Ohio roads and up to 14 inches of snow in parts of Massachusetts. The storm was battering much of the Midwest early Sunday, with a mixture of ice, snow and sleet blanketing several states. Chicago was among the hardest hit cities, with up to 8 inches of snow reported by early morning. Airlines had already canceled nearly 1,900 flights into Chicago-area airports and that figure was expected to grow throughout the day.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

A Trade Attack Between Israel and Hezbollah Breaks Out

Israel fired a counterattack into Lebanon on Wednesday and promised more after a Hezbollah rocket strike killed two Israeli soldiers in the sharpest escalation between the two foes since their war in 2006. Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group, said the attack was carried out by the "heroic martyrs of Quneitra" in apparent retaliation for an Israeli airstrike on the Golan Heights that killed six Hezbollah fighters and an Iranian general Jan. 18. Israel said that strike targeted combatants plotting an attack on Israel. Hezbollah told the United Nations mission in southern Lebanon that it is not seeking to increase tensions with Israel, and its rocket attack satisfies its revenge, according to the Israeli news site Arutz Sheva. Wednesday's attack took place near Shebaa Farms, an area claimed by Lebanon where the borders of Israel, Lebanon and Syria meet. A Spanish U.N. peacekeeper, Cpl. Francisco Javier Soria Toledo, 36, was killed in the Israeli strikes.

McConnel is Unyielding on Iran

McConnel is unyielding on Iran that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delay his controversial speech to Congress, and he vowed action on a bill to toughen sanctions on Iran despite White House opposition. The address to a joint meeting of Congress, which was scheduled without advance notice to the White House and just before Israeli elections, has created an issue in Washington and in Israel. Negotiators face a March 24 deadline to reach an agreement. In Washington, a proposal to put more sanctions on Tehran if there isn't a deal has divided Democrats and drawn a veto threat from President Obama in his State of the Union Address. Netanyahu is expected to make warnings about the threat from a nuclear-armed Iran the centerpiece of his address, now set for March 3. The White House has announced Obama won't meet with the Israeli prime minister when he visits Washington, citing the closeness of the Israeli elections on March 17.

The Agonizing Silence on Isis Hostage

After two days of threats and tense deadlines, there was no word Friday on the state of negotiations over the fate of a Jordanian military pilot and Japanese journalist being held hostage by the Islamic State. Sky News Arabia, however, reported on Twitter in Arabic that relatives of the pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, said he was still alive and that negotiations for his release were continuing. An audio message purportedly posted online by jihadis had warned that al-Kaseasbeh, would be killed if Sajida al-Rishawi, an al-Qaeda prisoner, was not delivered to the Turkish border by sunset on Thursday, Iraq time. Jordan had offered to release al-Rishawi — on death row over her role in the bombing of an Amman hotel in 2005 that killed 60 people — but insisted first that it receive proof the pilot was still alive. Japanese officials also had no progress to report. The hostage drama has left Jordan with tough choices. Freeing al-Rishawi would conflict with the government's tough policy toward Islamic extremism. But King Abdullah II is also under strong pressure from the public and from the pilot's prominent Jordanian family to win his release.

SPORTS NEWS

Tom Brady

First off, let’s look at players. Tom Brady, The New England Patriots famous quarterback. Did you know ....One hundred and ninety-eight players were taken in the 2000 NFL Draft before the New England Patriots selected Tom Brady in the sixth round. Nearly 15 years later, that same quarterback out of Michigan is a sure-fire Hall of Famer and firmly in the discussion as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. Brady's legacy as an elite player is largely defined by his nearly unparalleled success in the playoffs. He is the all-time leading passer in career playoff yards (7,017), touchdowns (49), completions (646) and attempts (1,035). Brady's 20 postseason wins are not only the most of any quarterback, but also more than 21 current franchises have in their history. When he steps on the field Sunday night, he'll become the first quarterback ever to start six Super Bowls. A win against the Seattle Seahawks would give Brady his fourth title, tying him with Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw for the most by a quarterback in NFL history. He is already one of five players to be named Super Bowl MVP multiple times, and is looking to join Montana as the only three-time winner.

Super Bowl XLIX

You've got two No. 1 seeds in the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, with both teams chasing history. The Seahawks have a chance to become the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champs since the Patriots a decade ago. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are looking for a fourth ring, which would tie them for the most all-time among quarterbacks and coaches. But there's so much more like Katy Perry and Lenny Kravitz who are performing at halftime for what should be a spectacular concert in Glendale, Arizona. And don’t forget about all the good commercials that play between breaks!! Catch The Superbowl at 6:30 PM EST on NBC.

Phoenix Open Golf Tournament

Well the Phoniex Open is still on! Here’s an update from the standings from the 2nd round.

Weather: Cloudy, with periods of mild rain and a high of 60 degrees. Winds E 5-10 mph.

Due to darkness, the second round was suspended Friday at 5:47 p.m. with 15 players still on the course. Those players will be back in position Saturday morning at 7:45 a.m. to complete their second round. Third-round tee times will be between approximately 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Saturday morning in threesomes off split tees (scheduled).

POSITION

ROUND

SCORE

1st

Martin Laird

66-66—132 (-10)

2nd

Daniel Berger

65-69—134 (-8)

3rd

Justin Thomas

67-68—135 (-7)

MUSIC/ ENTERTAINMENT

The Biggest Superbowl Movie

"American Sniper" has shot down another box-office record: Its $31.9 million is the biggest Super Bowl weekend gross ever. According to studio estimates Sunday, the Clint Eastwood film narrowly surpassed the previous top Super Bowl weekend draw. The concert film "Hanna Montana/Miley Cyrus: The Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour" earned $31.1 million earned in 2008. It has now made $248.9 million in six weeks, making it the most lucrative war movie without adjusting for inflation. The competition was thin. The animated adaptation "Paddington" came in a distant second with $8.5 million, in a virtual tie with Paramount's found-footage thriller "Project Almanac." Kevin Costner's "Black or White" opened in fourth with $6.5 million.

Geraldine McEwan

Geraldine McEwan has died, at age 82, following treatment for a stroke. McEwan was known for many roles including Agatha Christie detective Miss Marple in 12 TV episodes. Her two children said in a statement that she died Friday after suffering a severe stroke at the end of October. McEwan worked for many years in theater, television and films, sharing the stage with Laurence Olivier, Albert Finney, and other top British stars. She has won numerous awards. McEwan was born in Old Windsor, 20 miles (30 kilometers) west of London. She played Miss Marple in 12 TV episodes from 2004 to 2008. Her career also included movies like "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves," working alongside Kevin Costner and Alan Rickman. She was married for nearly 50 years to Hugh Cruttwell, a former principal of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. She is survived by their two children, Greg and Claudia.

Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show

Global superstar Katy Perry and Lenny Kravitz will headline the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show on NBC in University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona today! Perry cemented her status as a best-selling superstar with the global success of three multi-platinum studio albums -- her 2008 debut One of the Boys, 2010's Teenage Dream, which made her the only female artist to have five No. 1 singles from one album on the Billboard Hot 100 char, and her current album, Prism. Perry joins an esteemed list of recent halftime acts that includes Bruno Mars, Beyoncé, Madonna, and The Who to name a few. As for the halftime show's other headliner, Kravtiz is a multi-instrumentalist genre-defying singer-songwriter. He began performing in 1978 as a 14-year-old wunderkind and transformed into a top-selling solo artist in the 1990s. His biggest hits include "Fly Away," "Are You Gonna Go My Way" and "It Ain't Over Til It's Over." Like most Super Bowl Halftime shows, the NFL is sure to have several surprise guest appearances during the performance. One name which has leaked is Missy Elliott. Elliott, a 43-year-old hip-hop and R&B artist, will join Perry and Kravitz at some point in the show. She has a host of accolades to her name, including seven BET awards, five Billboard Music and most impressively, five Grammies.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

New York City's Grand Central Terminal

First off, tomorrow, on Feb 2, after almost ten years of renovation and reengineering, the new Grand Central Terminal opened to the public precisely at midnight in 1913. More than 150,000 people from all over the city visited the New York's newest landmark on its opening day. In 1899 The New York Times had called Grand Central "a cruel disgrace." But now, its image had changed dramatically. "The Grand Central Terminal is not only a station," The Times declared, "it is a monument, a civic center, or, if one will, a city. Without exception, it is not only the greatest station in the United States, but the greatest station, of any type, in the world."

The 29th Anniversary of NASA's Challenger

NASA honored all its fallen astronauts with a special day of remembrance Wednesday (Jan. 28), the 29th anniversary of the Challenger space shuttle tragedy. The Apollo 1 fire, NASA's first mission-related tragedy, occurred on Jan. 27, 1967. Astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee were inside their crew capsule at Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, conducting a test of the vehicle, which was scheduled to launch on an orbital mission less than a month later. A fire broke out, and all three crewmembers were killed. Then the next spaceflight disaster came 19 years and one day later. On Jan. 28, 1986, Challenger disintegrated just 73 seconds after blasting off.

BIZARRE/ HUMOR NEWS

Elementary Teachers Under Fire After Forcing 'Poop Inspections' On Students

The parents of students at Gustine elementary school in Gustine, Texas are furious after finding out 24 children were rounded up and forced to submit to a ‘poop inspection’ at the school. The inspection was done after multiple accounts of finding human feces on the gym floor. One student felt her privacy was violated as she was forced to pull her pants below her butt so faculty could search for fecal stains. The superintendent is investigating in hopes of setting this story straight.

"Zombie Cat" Claws Way Out Of Grave And Into Our Hearts

A cat down in Tampa, Florida has been dubbed the “Zombie Cat” after digging itself out of an untimely grave. The pet cat, named Bart, was seemingly hit by a car and found by his owner, Ellis Hutson. He and a neighbor buried the apparently-dead feline, who then dug out of the grave and went to a neighbor’s house. Bart was taken to an animal hospital and is expected to make a full recovery, though he will lose one of his eyes.

For The First Time Ever, A Commercial About Fruit Will Air During The Super Bowl (Congrats, Avocado!)

America’s new favorite fruit is part of a Super Bowl first. Avocados from Mexico, the largest market of Avocados in the U.S., will be airing a 30-second ad during today’s game in the first corner. Avocados are known to support healthy cholesterol levels, boast large amounts of potassium, and have anti-inflammatory properties. It is the first time in the game’s advertising history that a fruit will get it’s own commercial, so keep an eye out for it soon.

SpongeBob SquarePants Discovered Inside Child

Over in Saudi Arabia, SpongeBob was reported hiding within a toddler’s trachea. Dr. Ghofran Ageely, a radiology assistant, documented x-rays that revealed the Nickelodeon celebrity smiling with his tongue sticking out. “I was amazed by the visible details,” Ageely exclaimed, “You can see his freckles, shoes, and fingers…AMAZING.” The SpongeBob pendant, belonging to the 16-month old’s sister, was successfully removed and the boy was sent home.

Several outlets are reporting that current Republican Senate candidate Tom Ganley is likely to end his bid for the US Senate in favor of running against Democrat Betty Sutton in Ohio's 13th congressional district. This would pit the auto dealer against the author of the Cash for Clunkers bill. Sources told the Plain Dealer that the potential jump was brought on by internal polling that showed Ganley was trailing Senate candidate Rob Portman, but would be strong against Sutton. The filing deadline for both races is today. If Ganley does make the jump, it will make for an interesting race in Ohio 13...

Check back later for updates from CPAC!

Tune in to the AP Radio News at the top of every hour and local news updates at 6:03, 7:03, 8:03, 9:03, 11:30, 1:30, 3:30, and 5:30 on 88.3 FM The Sting!

RTA to lay off employees 219 employees will be out of jobs by April as a result of the transit authority's 12 percent cut in bus service. This amounts to about 9 percent of the workforce. RTA's budget is 12 million dollars lower than it was 1 year ago.

Toledo mall brawl Security will be beefed up at Westfield Franklin Mall in Toledo after a brawl last Saturday night involving 150 teenagers. Mall officials also say that they have adopted a zero tolerance policy for teenagers, meaning that they will be thrown out of the mall rather than given a warning if they misbehave. No word on if Westfield's malls in the Cleveland area will adopt the same policy.

Stow High paper returns The school newspaper was suspended after the administration refused to allow the paper to publish a picture of a student who committed suicide. The compromised reached allows students to have an appeals process if they believe the administration is restricting them unfairly.

Olympic Update Shaun White hit the extremely difficult McTwist 1260 in a practice run for the halfpipe competition, however there is no word on whether he will use it in the competition today. Both US hockey teams made short work of their opponents yesterday, with the men beating Switzerland 3-1 and the women destroying Russia 12-0. Kelli Stack of Brooklyn Heights scored a power play goal at 3:16 of the second period. Both US curling teams lost yesterday, with the men losing to Norway 6-5 and Germany 7-5, and the women losing a heartbreaker to Japan 9-7. Snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis had a hard day as well, going off the course in the snowboard cross semifinals, dashing her hopes of redemption after blowing what was sure gold in Torino. Germany now leads the medal count with 9, but the US is right behind them with 8. Medals will be handed out today in women's downhill skiing, cross country individual sprint, men's doubles luge, men's halfpipe, and men's 1000m speed skating.

I'll be heading to Washington to cover the Conservative Political Action Conference tomorrow, so check this blog for updates throughout the weekend.

Tune in for the AP Radio News at the top of every hour and local news updates at 6:03, 7:03, 8:03, 11:30, 1:30, 3:30, and 5:30 today on 88.3 FM The Sting!

50 car pileup The crash shut down 29 miles of I-71 southbound in Delaware County for 7 hours as crews cleared the wreckage. The highway has reopened, but if you're headed to Central Ohio, be sure to take it slow.

BGSU professor suspended Associate Professor Bruno Ullrich was suspended on January 22 for making threats against his colleagues. The suspension was not a response to the shooting at the University of Alabama-Huntsville last week. A BG spokesman declined to describe the exact nature of the threats.

Olympic Update The US team picked up two more medals yesterday, as Seth Wescott won gold in Snowboard Cross, and Bode Miller took home the bronze in men's downhill skiing. Both US hockey teams will be in action today, as the women play Russia and the men play Switzerland. In other action, medals will be given out in alpine skiing, biathlon, luge, snowboarding, and speed skating. But perhaps the most important event today is the beginning of the much-anticipated curling tournament, with the US men's rink taking on Germany and the women's rink taking on Japan.

Tune into the AP Radio News at the top of every hour and local news updates at 6:03, 7:03, 8:03, 11:30, 1:30, 3:30, and 5:30 on 88.3 FM The Sting!